Mexico Releases Stamps with Racial Overtones

New stamps released in Mexico

As many of you may have seen by now Mexico has recently released a new set of postage stamps commemorating a popular cartoon character there, who many in the United States believe carries significant racial overtones. Even the Bush White House expressed outrage at the stamp release. Of course this issue is bringing criticism from all of the usual Black spokesperson, the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, etc. Of course Mexican president Vicente Fox says that Mexico will not apologize or withdraw the stamp release. He says that people in the US simply do not understand Mexican culture, and that the cartoon series is loved all over Mexico. I sincerely hope there is nothing afoul here, however one has to wonder the motive behind this release. Obviously the characters remind us of the mammy images of days gone by, and we all recall the recent statements made by President Fox recently when he commented on the fact that Mexicans are taking on the jobs that even Blacks will not take in the United States. What do you think? Should we be offended by these images, or are we simply being over-sensitive?